Would you please provide the following information on Universal Credit (UC) policy, procedure, and legislation.

1) I am aware that a claimant's capital affects the payable amount of UC, and is calculated in brackets of £250 multiples.

a) As it is likely that a claimant's capital is likely to vary between £250 brackets regularly - possibly multiple times in a given month - how often does the DWP expect a claimant to report a new capital level as a change of circumstances? For example, every time a new bracket is reached (which could be triggered by, for example, a large grocery shop)? Or once per month/quarter/year? Or once every time the capital level changes by, say, £1000?

b) What is the specific and detailed required procedure for a claimant to report a change in capital? (Given that there is no option in the UC online "change of circumstances" menu, relating to capital)

c) What proofs of capital are acceptable, and should be accepted by Jobcentre staff? (For example, bank statements, ATM balance slips, showing a banking app's balance screen to a member of Jobcentre staff, or others? - please provide a complete list)

d) What proofs of capital are unacceptable and should be rejected by Jobcentre staff? - again, please provide a complete list.

e) Is the claimant obligated to allow Jobcentre staff to take copies of capital proofs, or merely to allow sight of the documents so that the staff member may verify the information and validity?

e) Is there a requirement for these proofs to be provided in person, or can they be provided by other means, for example by post, email, or by PDF upload to the Journal?

f) Is there a requirement to report the existence (and continued balance) of a PayPal account with a constantly nil balance, which is used purely for purchasing from eBay?

2) I am aware that the UC regulations provide for pension contributions to be deducted from the income figure used in award calculation.

a) What is the detailed procedure for a claimant to report contributions that they make (from their take-home pay, to a private scheme, not an employer scheme)?

b) Do these contributions need to be reported every month repeatedly, or just for the first month where they are an ongoing contribution for the same monthly amount, made by direct debit?

c) As contributions made to a dependent child's pension are "relievable" (i.e. an income tax reclamation is made), are these still eligible to be deducted from the income figure, where the contributions are being made by the claimant?

1 Attachment

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information,
Department for Work and Pensions
1 October 2018

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DWP Strategy FoI Team

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